Tag fastening device



June 13, D M SWETT ET AL TAG FASTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. so, 1942 s sheets-sheet 1 June13f 1944- D. M. swr-:TT l-:TAL 2,351,557

TAG FASTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. so, 1942 s sheets-sheet 2 June 13, 1944. D M, SWETT E1- AL 2,351,557

TAG FASTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 50, 1942 3 Sl'uaets-Sheecl 3 72%.; 72 m @Qi/Maf @@fdzgfWm/@ Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAG FASTENIN G DEVICE Donald M. Swett, Chicago, and Sidney E. Van Tuyl, Riverside, Ill., as'signors to American Tag Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 30, 1942, VSerial No. 428,826 l 13 Claims.

This invention relates to tag fastening devices and more particularly to devices for fastening tags or labels to merchandise by means off wire staples supplied separately from the tags.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a tag fastening device in which tags in strip form are fed, cut from the strip, and stapled to the merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tag fastening device in which a strip of tags is fed in one direction and a series of staples to fasten the tags is fed in a direction at right angles thereto. Preferably, the staples are fed along one of the members forming an operating part of the device, and the tags are fed in from the side, so that the supply is always visible'pand does not interfere with use ofthe machine.

Another object of the invention is to' provide a tag fastening device of the'type referredto in which the parts are temporarily" held inv intermediate position and further tag feeding is prevented after completion of a fastening operation to permit easy removal of merchandise to which atag has been fastened. y K y Still another object of the invention is to provide a tag fastening device for separately feeding tags and fastening staples,i which is small and compact, so as to be readily portable forvuse in any location or position. According to one/feature of the invention, the device is made in the form of a manually operable hand tool. l

Dther objects and advantages of the invention, including desirable' operating features and structural arrangements, Ywill be apparent from vthe following description when.A read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a top view of a tag rfastening device embodying the inventiom- Y v v Figure 2 is a side elevationlooking from the bottom of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the manner of feeding the tags and'staples; 3' Y Figure 4 is a perspective "of oneof the` lever elements; n

Figure 5 is aview SimiIartoFigueSZ, showing the parts inanother position;"`

Figure 6 is a view similar tfFigure 2, with parts omitted; f r f n Figure 'I is a view similar to'Fig-ure 6, in another position; f

Figure 8 is a section on theline 8-8.of Figm86; l

Figure `9 is ampervspectivev view 'of the tag' hold.. ingand cuttingplate;` gv '-l v .Figure 10 is a section on the .linev I Il--III` of Figure 2; y. Y.

Figure 11 is a view similarto Figure 10 with the parts in the position of Figure 5; v Figure 12 is a section on the line I2-1I2 of Figure 2; 4, l

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 with the parts in the position of Figures 5 and 11;

Figure 14 is a partial section of the tag feeding means on the line I4-I4 of Figure 1;

Figure 15 is a partial section on the line I 5f-I5 ofFigure 1; and y Figure 16 is a View similar to Figure 15 with the parts in another position. .x

The illustrated machine comprises threelevers I1, I8 and I9, pivotally connected togetherat one end on parallel pivots 2 I. As shown, the lever` I8 lies between the levers II and I9, and the three levers lie substantially in a common plane., A spring 22 urges the upper lever I1 and theintenmediate lever I8 apart, and the two outerv levers I1 and I9 are adapted to be drawn togetherby an operating handle 23, pivoted at 24 to the lever I9, with its end connected to the lever II bya link 25.

The intermediate lever I8,4 as best `seen Fig, ures 10 to 13, is of inverted channel shape and carries a guide block 26 spaced from its sides to form a supporting and guiding channelfor ya series of pre-formed wire staples 2'I. The staples, as shown, are of substantially U-shaped form, and are connected together side-by-side by lacquer or other suitable adhesivafin the formcommonly known as frozen staples. .Adjacent its outer end, the intermediate lever. I8 is formed with a feed slot or opening through which the endstaple may pass, and the ends of the staple are adapted to be bent or crimped over by means of an anvil 28, carried by the free end of the lever I9. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the end staple is adapted to be forced through the slot against the anvil by means of a blade 29 .carried by the upper lever I'I in a position to pressagainst.. the top edge of the end staple and force it thiQllgh the slot and kagainst the anvilwhenth'e'levers tags may be connected in a strip, and'jeaQh-.o'fg

the tags may be formed with a central feed opening 34 and with a partially slotted edge 35. Tags of this character are more patricularly described and claimed in the co-pending application of Sidney E. Van Tuyl, Serial No. 408,771, led August 29, 1941, although it will be understood that tags of a diierent type could be used in the machine :if desired.

The tags are supported on a guide plate 36 which is carried by a fourth lever 31 pivoted at 38 to the intermediate lever I8. An elon`= gated slot 39 adjacent the free end of the lever 31 is adapted to fit over a screw 4Icarried by the intermediate lever I8 tolimit relative move.- ment between the levers I8" and'3-1.

the tags thereon.

In order to feed the tags along the guide plate, 'ar feeding carriage'44`I is slidably connected 'thereto by. means .of pins passing through 'an' elongated'slot* 45' in oneside ofthe guidepla'te. I'he `,carriage is normal-ly'urgedtoward thelever 31 by me'ans of`a" coilspring 46 connectedat'its opposite ends to the lever and the carriage'. A ffeiible -fe'ed'finger 41" is carried' by the" carriage 4.4 and'h'as a turnededown tip 48 thereon;V as Shown in Figures" 1.0 and lll, which is adapted to `enter. 'the'ol'aieningsV 34 in the tags to feed'tlem along" the guide plate; 'The' cover plate y42l is formed with a slot through which the linger' 41 projects' to' engage' Ythe'v tags. Rearwardmovement of the tags during.' retraction of, the" feed carriage" and` feed" ii'rige'r" 'is prevented by a; ilexililespringfingerwe' having a turned-downY end projecting' through the slot in the`4 cover plate #to engage the-openings 3'4" inthe tags.

The carriage is adapted to' be' moved to its fiediixgposition against'thev tension ofl the spring .Wymeansof'a cam mechanism including scam Dltli!! connected to' the upper lever 'I 1' by'means .of ari? arm .52` secured: 'to thewcamA plate; .As shown, the arm 52 is formed withY a transverse slot 53 at its upper end, s-lidably fitting' over' a pin 54v oith'e upper"lever I1 and with 'an elon- `gated"s'lot 55"slidably ii'tting'over as'crew 56onthe Alever 31. In th'is'way, the' arm' 52 is guided axdwiillbemoved'relative' to' thel'ever3'l' upon. re1- a'tive' movement between this lever and the upper 'leven IT. One edge of the` ca'm plate 5I" is out at' an angle; as .shown inA Figures 12" and 113, to engage a pin: .51 carriedv by a 1ever`58 pivoted at it's `lower endv on' anange 59 on `the guide plate 36'; As the' cam plate moves down rela'- tive' t'o" the il`an`g'e 59, the edge thereoi" will" engageA the pin 5r and rock the rever" 5s* clockwise; seen in Figures 12 and 1'3. .At its upend thelever' carries a pin` Si tting in a vel'tlc'aljslot in the adjacent side'oi`V the feed c'arnage 44, se that `aas-the lever' is rocked;l the carri'age' will `loe-moved" along the guide1p1'ate; The

lcfztrriaig'e` u isu adapted to be locked' in retracted position to preventY feeding of' the tags except' when desired by m'eans'fof' a' latch 62 (Figure 15)' pivoted on the frange 5'9" andi Havi'njganerid portion* sr adapte'd to: project through an opening in the' guide plate" 3`6j` to engage a corresponding ltehin'g opening 541 in the car'- nage-1M;A 'I'iie'Y latch is' normally rocked to its latching position by a coil spring. '65 and` is adapted to' be released by a pin 86 carried by cam plate5I and operating ina vertical slot .UT inthe" flange 59. The pin 6'6, when in the position slown inFigure 15, engages the @mi 'The f tags' are held in place on the guide plate '36f'by`mea-ns: of a plate 42 pivotally mounted on ears .43 formed. adjacent the end of the guide" plate to hold' :willi .be yieldingly.' vheld@ thereby:

toward the upper lever I1.

Vlever 58, is adapted to ride in this cam groove and tofhold the parts in intermediate position, as will be explained hereinafter. As. shown in Eigurefzli, .the lever 1I is connected to the` flange '59%` by means-off a pin carrying a cup spring 12 to hold the lever 1I frictionally in any positionto Whi'chitv has been moved. As the tags are fedl across the guide plate 36, the end tag onA the strip is moved into register with the 'feeffehdy *off theA ini:'erme'diatel lever `I B5 which is provided' with'A valfhclding and! cutting plate 13, as-shownvinz-.detai in: Figure' 9; The plate.13 is formed with lairsiott 14? .through'which`y the sta pies are'. adapted; tof pass',y andinas-1 on .its r vlower side turned-iniiffanges 15'to receiveandfholdfthe tagt.; Aseth'e: tagsiarer fied: acrossrthe'f guide plate, they will slide in between the: flanges` 15.: and In". addition, the edge: of :the .plate-f 13 'adj amant-the` guide-plate 36:. serves as'y a: cutting; edglef to sever thet end tag ont the strip, "Cooperating-g with'f this@ edge ofil thel pla-te,-, theaguide/plate" 36 carries-e` aj blade 18;'. which is` adapted to be moved across; the edge'. of f the pla-tettoxcut. ythe tag.

ln-.onder tofmove the-:leven 31 andfthe parts aissociated.therewithgduringthe cutting-operation, a lugtonnger 1.1-isca-rriediby the guide plate and projects-.into the path of. movement. of the-lower lever'. I9.' Asfthisfleverl. ismoved .upwardly toward the upper. lever L1', fitengagesand .raises thelever 311! andl the guide. plate softhat-theend tagwill Vbe .severedlfromthestrip:between theblades- 1.6and the edge of the plate 13.

.In order. to. prevent relative: movementbetween on the inside`of the link. With the levers in their fopen', position, as' shown in Figure '6, the enlarged :head18'overles' and rests on a cam block'19v secured to theside of the intermediate lever` I8. "Thus, any movement ofthe lever I8 toward the lever I1l will be-.pre'vented with the parts inY this l position;y AsV the: handle is-moved tov move'v 'thelevers I1 and I9 together, the1liead'18 will moveoff fo'tfthe blockf19, thereby releasing: the lever I8' for movement toward the lever If1f. The cutting operation, however, is performed during such time as the head 18 isaresting: on the block`19',.so' that 'the lever I8 is rigidly held and. cannotA move toward the lever I1.

kIlm-operation', ahstripiof tags is. placed ony the guide plate 36 beneath. theplate`4 42as shown iny fligurey 1, and the` intermediate lever I8 iszloaded with a series ofl staples. A sheet of merchandise `to beitagged vmay then-be' placed over theanvll 28 and the operator may squeeze the 'handle 23 y During; the initial part of this movement, the lever I9 will engage the vlinger 1.1 tolmove theA lever 31 and thcguide plate upwardly, thereby severing vthe end tag from the strip. At this time, the severed tag will be held between the flanges 'I5 and further squeezing of the handle will raise the sheet of material on the anvil into engagement with the lower surface of the tag and will continue to elevate the guide plate 36 with respect to the intermediate lever I8. After the head 'I8 of the pivot pin has passed off of the cam block 19, the intermediate lever I8 may also be moved upwardly toward the upper lever I'I by engagement of the anvil and the material carried thereby with its lower surface. During this operation, the blade 29 will press the end staple through the opening in the intermediate lever and through the slot 'I4 in the plate 13, through the tag and material, and against the anvil 28, to be crimped over, as shown in Figure 11. This completes the first operation of fastening a tag to the sheet. 4

During this operation, the pin 69 on the lever 'II will travel in a general clockwise direction around the cam slot 6B, and at completion of the fastening operation will lie in the upper part of, the left lobe of this slot, as seen in Figures 12 and 13. When the handle 23 is released, the lower lever I9 will tend to drop away from the other parts and the pin 69 will fall into the intermediate part of the cam slot, as shown in Figure 13. This locks the parts against further separation, holding them in an intermediate position so that the material may be removed from the device. iAt this time, the feed carriage 44 has been moved to its outermost position and is held therein by the latch 62 with the parts in the position shown in Figure 16. Thus, no additional tags will be fed while the material is still in the device and during the time that it is being removed.

After the material has been removed, the handle 23 may again be squeezed to bring the ends of the levers together, the pin 69 travelling at this time to the upper part of the right lobe of the cam slot 68, as seen in Figures 12 and 13. Upon again releasing the handle, the pin69 will travel down the right side of the cam slot into the lower part thereof, permitting the levers to separate to their maximum extent, as shown in Figure 2.v When this occurs, the cam plate 5I moves up relative to the flange 59 causing the pin 66 to rise in the slot 61 to engage the end of the latch B2, releasing the feed carriage 44 so that it may move toward the levers under the influence of spring 46. During this movement, the feed finger 41,'which has engaged the feed opening 34 of the second tag from the end of the strip, will move the strip of tags in a feeding direction to cause the end one thereof to register with the holding and cutting plate 13. At this time the parts are in condition for a succeeding fastening operation, and the operations may be repeated as described above to secure any desired number o f tags to merchandise.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that this is illustrative only, and is not to be taken as a den'ition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A tag fastening device comprising a plurality of elongated members pivotally connected together, means for feeding a series of preformed staples lengthwise in one of the members, means carried by Aanother of the members to feed a strip of tags in a direction transverse to the length thereof, means on said one of the members to receive and hold the end tag on the strip below the end one of the series of staples, cooperating means on said two members to sever the end tag from the strip, and means on a third of the members to force the end staple through the severed tag and into a body of material underlying it.

2. A tar fastening device comprising a plurality of elongated members pivotally interconnected adjacent one end with their free ends movable relatively toward and away from each other, means carried by an intermediate one of the members for feeding a series of preformed staples lengthwise of the member toward the free end thereof, means carried by a second one of the members for feeding a strip of tags transversely of its length across the free end of said one member, cooperating means carried by the free ends of the f'lrst and second members to sever the end tag from the strip, means carried by a third of the members to force the end one of the series of staples through the severed tag and into a body of materialv underlying it when the third member is moved relatively toward the first member, and means to prevent movement of the third member toward the first member until after the end tag has been severed.

3. A tag fastening device comprising a plurality of elongated members pivotally interconnected adjacent one end with their free ends movable relatively toward and away from each other, means carried by an intermediate one of the members for feeding a series of preformed staples lengthwise of the member toward the free end thereof, means carried by a second one of the members for feeding a strip of tags transversely of its length across the free end of said one member, cooperating means carried by the free ends of the first and second members to sever the end tag from the strip, means carried by a third of the members to force the end one of the series of staples through the severed tag and into a body of material underlying it when the third member is moved relatively toward the rst member, means to move the second and third members relatively together, and means to prevent movement of the first member toward the third member during initial operation of the last named means whereby the first and second members will be moved relative to each other to sever the end tag from the strip.

4. A tag fastening device comprising a plurality of elongated members pivotally interconnected adjacent one end with their free ends movable relatively toward and away fromA each other, means carried by an intermediate one of the members for feeding a series of preformed Astaples lengthwise of the member toward the member is moved relativelyy toward the first member, an anvil carried by the free end of a `fourth of the members to crimp over the ends of `the staple, operating means connecting the third and fourth members to move them'relatively together, the fourth member engaging the second and first members successively to move them toward the third member.

5. A tag fastening device comprising a plu- V'rality of elongated members pivotally interconnected adjacent one end with their free ends movable relatively toward and away from each other, means carried by an intermediate one of the members, for feeding a series of preformed staples lengthwise of the member toward the free end thereof, means carried by a second one of the members for feeding a strip of tags transversely of its length across the free end of said one member, cooperating means carried by the free ends of the first and second members to sever the end tag from the strip, means carried by a third of the members to force the end one of the series ofs taples through the severed tag and into a body of material underlying it when the third member is moved relatively toward the rst member, an anvil carried by the free end of a fourth of the members to crimp over the ends of the staple, operating means connecting the third and fourth members to move them relatively together, the fourth member engaging the second member to move it relatively toward the first member to cut the end tag from the strip, and means to prevent movement of the first member toward the third member during the cutting operation.

6. A tag fastening device comprising three elongated levers pivotally connected together adjacent one end, means carried by the intermediate lever to feed a series of preformed staples toward the free end thereof, operating means to move the two outer lever together with the intermediate lever between them, means carried by one of the outer levers, to force the end one of the series of staplesl from the intermediate lever, an anvil carried by the other outer lever to bend over the ends of the staple, a fourth lever pivoted to one of the first named levers, means carried by the fourth lever to feed a strip of tags successively across the end of the intermediate lever, means on the intermediate and fourth levers operable upon relative movement thereof to sever the end tag from the strip, and interengaging means on one of the end levers and the fourth lever to move the fourth lever relative to the intermediate lever during initial actuation of the operating means.

7. A tag fastening device comprising three elongated levers pivotally connected together adjacent one end, means carried by the intermediate lever to feed a series of preformed staples toward the free end thereof, operating means to move the tvvo outer levers together with the intermediate lever between them., means carried by one of the outer levers to force the end one of the series of staples from the intermediate lever, an anvil carried by the other outer lever to bend over the ends of the staple, a fourthA lever pivoted to one of the first named levers, means carried by the fourth lever to feed a strip of tags successively across the end of the intermediate lever, means on the intermediate and fourth levers operable upon relative movement thereof to sever the end tag from the strip., interengaging means on one of the end levers and the fourth lever to move the fourthlever relative to the intermediate lever during initial actuation of the operating means, and interengaging means on the intermediate lever and the other end lever to prevent relative movement thereof during; initial actuation of the operating means.

8. A tag fastening device comprising threev elongated levers pivotally connected together adjacent one end, means carried by the intermediate lever to feed a series of preformed staples. toward the free end thereof, operating means to move the two outer lovers: together with tho intermediato, leverhetweeri them... means oorriod. lovone of the outer levers to. forte theI ond; one of the series. of Staples from. tizio intermediate lovera an anvil carried bv the. other outer lever to bend over the 61111501 the staple, a fourth lever pivoted to one of the; lTSi named leVBIS, k.l'lleitl'ls Carried by the fourth lever to feed a strip of tags successively acrossthe end of their-immediato lever, means on the intermediate and fourth levers operable upon relativo movement. thereof to sever the en d tag from the strip, a lug carried bythe fourth lever and projecting into the path of movement of said other of the outer levers to move the fourth levery relative tothe intermediate lever, and interengaging means on the intermediate lever and said one 'of the outerI levers to prevent relative movementtherebetween during initial clover-.rientv of the. outer levers together..

9.v A tag; fastening machine comprising a; plurality of elongated levers pivotally connected together adjacent onev end, means carried by an intermediate, lever to feed a, series ofrproformed staples toward the free end thereof, means to support a strip; of tags, adjacent the free end of said lever, means to out the end tag of the strip therefrom, means carried 'by a second' lever to force the end staple of the series through the tag and into a, bd'yfV 0fl material underlying it, an anvil on aV third lever to crimp over the ends of the staple when the free ends of Athe leverare moved together, feeding means yfor the strip of tags urged in a feeding direction by a spring, cam means operated by av relative pivotal movement of the leverswv to move,` the feeding means inthe other direction., a latch tov hold the feedingmeans in its extreme position in said other direction, and mea-ns operable upon lmovement ofthe-,levers to their maximum separated position toi release the latch.. v

16,. tag fastening machine comprising a-'pluralit-y cf elongated levers pivotally connected t0- gether adjacent Yone end, meanscarried by an intermediate lovertoj food a series of preformed staples towardl the. free end thereof, means-to .support a strip of tags adjacent the free end of said lever,v means to out the end'tag of the strip therefrom, means carried by a second levert@ forceV the end' staple of the series through the tag and into` material underlying it, an anvil on a third lever -to` crimp over the ends of the staple when the freeends of the levers are moved together, feeding means for the strip of tags urged in a feeding-,direction by a spring, cam means operated by relative-pivotal movement 0f the levers tof-move theA feeding means inthe other direction, a latch to hold the feeding means in its` extreme Position in said other direction, means operable upon movement of the levers to their maximum :separateds position to release the latch, and a Second latch means` engaged by movement of, the levers together to hold the levers `in. a partially opened position and released by again moving the levers together.

11. A tag fastening device inthe form of a portable hand tool comprising three levers pivotally connectedl together adjacent one end, an operating handle pivoted to one of the outer levers and linked to the other to move them together, means on the intermediate lever to feed a series of preformed staples longitudinally thereof,

means on the outer levers to force a staple fromv theV feeding means and to bend over the ends thereof when. the levers are moved together, a fourthA lever pivotally connected to thev first named levers, means on the fourth lever to feed a strip of tags transversely thereof successively into register With the intermediate lever, and cooperating means on the intermediate and fourth levers to cut the end tag from the strip when said levers are moved relative to each other.

12. A tag fastening device in the form of a portable hand tool comprising three levers pivotally connected together adjacent one end, an operating handle pivoted to one of the outer levers and linked to the other to move them together, means on the intermediate lever to feed a series of preformed staples longitudinally thereof, means on the outer levers to force a Staple from the feeding means and to bend over the ends thereof when the levers are moved together, a fourth lever pivotally connected to the first named levers, means on the fourth lever to feed a strip of tags transversely thereof successively into register with the intermediate lever, cooperating means on the intermediate and fourth levers to cut the end tag from the strip when said levers are moved relative to each other, the fourth lever having a part engageable with one of the end levers to move the fourth lever when the handle is operated.

13. A tag fastening device in the form of a portable hand tool comprising three levers pivotally connected together adjacent one end, an operating handle pivoted to one of the outer levers and linked to the other to move them together, means on the intermediateV lever to feed a series of preformed staples longitudinally thereof, means on the outer levers to force a staple from the feeding means and to bend over the ends thereof when the levers are moved together, a fourth lever pivotally connected to the first named levers, means on the fourth lever to feed a strip of tags transversely thereof successively into register with the intermediate lever, cooperating means on the intermediate and fourth levers to cut the end tag from the strip when said levers are moved relative to each other, and means effective during initial movement of the handle to prevent movement of the intermediate lever toward the other end lever.

DONALD M. SWETT. SIDNEY E. VAN TUYL. 

